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Disease
Before the first European explored the area the Monongahela people vanished being victims to disease. -
Winning
After the British had won their claim, English Scotch, and Scotch-Irish slowly began to settle farms or work in trades. -
Population
Pittsburgh's population is only 300, clearly showing it is not a magnet for migration -
Conflict Resolved
The area was not a magnet for migration due to cultural conflicts. Until the Treaty of Greenville was signed because the Native American's had not relinquished their claim. -
Period: to
Hill District
For several migrant groups arriving in Pittsburgh the Hill District was the first stop. The first Irish arrived in the mid-1800's, Jews in the late 1800's, and the African Americans in the 1910s. Each group would tend to move to the suburbs to when they became more established while they were replaced by the next group of migrants. -
The "West"
Western Pennsylvania was primarily English, Scotch, and Scotch-Irish until 1830. The Scotch and Scotch-Irish were attracted to the "west" ( our area's name until the War of 1812) because they were subject to prejudice from the more "genteel" English on the East Coast. -
Push and Pull
A potato famine left Irish peasants starving and political uphill forced German men to military conscription. Pittsburgh had cheap ample farmland available. Also employment was available in growing boat-building, shipping, glassmaking, and other manufacturing industries. This caused thousands of Irish and immigrants to find their way to Pittsburgh. -
Population
Immigration was running at full steam during the era that half of the population were foreign born residents. During the same era brave people in southwestern Pennsylvania became involved in the convert migration of many slaves escaping from the South. Free blacks and white abolitionists were conductors on The Underground Railroad. -
Change
Immigration changed dramatically. Between the explosive growth of Pittsburgh steel industry and the need for cheap, unskilled labor, and agricultural depression and political unrest in eastern and southern Europe the area was set for the largest migration ever. -
Cut Off
World War 1 had cut off the flow of immigration as the demand of steel increased. This gave an opportunity to thousands of African Americans in the South. When the pool of white workers were no longer available, industries were willing to hire blacks. -
Period: to
Standstill
After World War 1 immigration almost came to a standstill after Congress enacted quota laws. Pittsburgh continued to grow until it reached a peak of 676,806. Allegheny County reached its peak at two million a year later. -
Stop
The push and pull factors have not worked in Pittsburgh's favor. Population has had a rapid decline after manufacturing jobs vanished. Young people have left to find jobs.
